Fred Excellent point ! The "group dynamic" should be focused on the least capable. No army marches faster than it's slowest soldier. When I take a person out for the first time, I want it to be a good experience for them. That means backing off when they get nervous and calling it a day when they start to tire, not when they're exhausted. Just engaging in a new activity uses up a lot of energy. Often the most skillful are the poorest leaders. It's all they can do to slow down enough to keep their companions on the edge of fear and exhaustion. I've been on both sides of these paddles. Some folks I won't go out with because I know I'll wreck my day trying to keep up with them. After I take out a person who has never paddled, it takes 3 solo paddles to get my mind right again. Bob ----- Original Message ----- From: "CA Kayaker" <cakayak_at_mindspring.com> When paddling with a group we should not be > afraid to speak out to the stronger members that we are getting in over our > heads or simply don't feel comfortable with the conditions. Certainly not > afraid of embarrassing ourselves in front of more experienced > paddlers. That is what I consider an avoidable and unnecessary risk - > group dynamics that ultimately put all at risk. > > Fred E. Thomas > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Feb 28 2000 - 19:56:58 PST
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